We praise God for the blessings we have seen during the first year of Congo Frontline Missions’ existence. Since our first lay training session, we have established our 17 church planters in areas near to Kisangani and to the East. We have learned much about the area and how to improve our methods of working.

We are thankful for the results of the first field-wide pastor’s meetings as well as the revival meetings we had for churches to the south. With unmistakable evidence of God’s leading up to now, we feel the time has come to advance boldly to the west (along the Congo River) and the north. This means moving into areas of the Lingala language where the truth has not penetrated.

We are planning our next lay training session for the months of June and July, 2009. The training will be done in the Lingala language. The final corrections to the Lingala Bible studies have been completed and we anticipate Light Bearers Ministry will soon print the new lessons.  Recently, we have hired two full time pastors to assist pastor Mtenzi in his work of teaching and supervising the church planters.  One will be a regional supervisor for church planters in the remote northern area. The other will assist locally and become a trainer in our evangelism school.  After the training session we plan to send out church planters to these vast unentered areas.

In February, we drove west along the Congo River and conducted baptisms in our Yanongi and Yaoseko church plants.  At Yanongi, our four new member had to cross the river by canoe to meet us for their baptism. As local villagers witnessed the baptism, they were deeply impressed and requested us to bring a teacher to them so they could be baptized, too. At the time, we felt their interest was more connected to our foreign faces than to a sincere interest.

However, they have persisted in their request and we now believe they are sincere. We are planning to send a church planter soon to their village in answer to their call for help.  Jesus longs for us to finish the work of sharing the gospel to all the world so He can come and take His people home. Thanks for your prayers and support as we carry the message of hope and truth to the remote regions of the Congo.